November 2011. Bumps, kicks and less feeling sick.

[Missyraines]

Thought I'd take the plunge and go for it.

Just to let you know, I had an amazing day driving all the way from Wolverhampton to the South of Wales and back! Enjoying the lovely countryside and amazing views!
Had a nice chat and a big cuddle with Caz!

They've done a superb job today with Anabelle's Angel Day fete! And the amount of money they've raised is fenomenal! But I'll leave it to Caz to tell you the total!

love to all! x

Caliphora, is it ok to have Gaviscon Advance when pregnant? I too am a reflux sufferer so like to keep the gaviscon always to hand but have found it to nauseating for words so far this pregnancy.
Feeling no better here, completely fed up. And getting very bored of sitting on the sofa/in bed, without the concentration span to do anything even passingly useful but not able to sleep or relax.
Well done on Anabelle's AngelDay Fete, sounds like you've done an amazing job which will hopefully help other people in the future.

Gaviscon is fine, the original, cool and advanced are all ok to use in pregnancy, and at times can be a gals best friend.

pandia i hope you managed to make up before you go.

blue glad you had a good trip today.

I'm absolutely gobsmacked and feeling very excited and emotional to announce that as of tonight (with plenty more still to collect from various places and the promise of part-matched donation from Santander) including pre-sold raffle tickets, justgiving online donations, money raised at my friends event at the same time today, everything we raised at fete today, our sponsored walk last week and various other cash donations we've been given offline, our SEMI FINAL total of fundraising for Sands in Anabelle's name is:

£4948.37

Beyond anything I could've dreamed of. I'm so in awe of everyone who has supported us. Thank you so much alicat and blue for coming, it was lovely to give you a big hug, sending my love as always!

I cannot wait to collect the rest and announce the final final figure after Santander have sent their money!

Wow Caz that is just amazing!
Well done on raising so much money for Sands.

I'm glad that Anabelle's Angel Day Fete was a success too.

Ouch Wuzz hope your hand gets better soon

Caz, that is absolutely brilliant news!

A huge well done!

Looking forward to hearing your final final total, sounds like its going to be impressive!

Thanks Poppy, my own silly fault, DH thinks its hilarious! He's taken to telling all our friends

Caz that's fantastic news. It sounds like yesterday went well, and it's great that you've raised such a sum of money.

Folic phew! Glad things haven't turned out as badly as they could have done. Look after yourself and fx for placenta doing what it's told.

And boo to headaches and to accidents / other pregnancy-brain related mishaps. Drowning headaches is about the only thing I've found to work so far, that and cold compresses on forehead and neck.

I've had a hideous week at work made up for by a lovely day seeing old school friends. One is due in November also so I've encouraged her to join us on here! But a note for the future - never try to get from Euston to Victoria on a day when the Victoria line is closed... thank goodness for helpful, polite tube staff. Can't wait to look properly pregnant though so somebody will offer me a seat on the tube / train / bus!!

Caz - that AMAZING! It's things like that which make me believe in people!

On a by note - how tired are you getting of all the "This is how you should feel" comments?
DP put up a post on fb that he had felt the baby (which was awesome), and someone posted "Yay, best thing about being pregnant is feeling it from the inside". I then wrote "Actually, I'm not liking it so much, it's uncomfortable, sometimes painful and weird". Then got a whole host of replies from friends-who-are-also-mothers saying how it was the best, how they appreciated the "private reminders" etc etc.
I'm loving baby moving, but I also remember some of those people whining about how the baby was kicking the living daylights out of their ribs. At the moment it's actually really painful for me - Sprout likes to kick my bladder and it really, really stings. It's also weirding me out, as a first time mum, to feel something alive in there.
I love him/her, but I still reserve the right to feel not-so-comfortable with it!
I'm really getting fed up with being made to feel like a second-rate mother because I have not-so-traditional views on motherhood.
Like when I posted the pram had been delivered - they went mad! How dare I tempt fate by having baby stuff in the house? Not that they are superstitious, oh no, it's just that they had it all delivered at their mothers house etc etc. Argh!

rant over

Cali I'm right there with you. There are days when being able to feel flutters is lovely, but how can you enjoy being kicked in the bladder?!? And yes, as another first-timer, there is definitely the weirdness-factor.

Rose-tinted hindsight I guess on the part of already-mums...

DH went to the NCT nearly new sale yesterday ON HIS OWN. I think he now has a healthy fear of pregnant women. He came back with a bassinet though and I'm not convinced. Bless him, he's trying really hard, but the thing is huge! I was already worried about a moses basket fitting in our bedroom.

Buffy You let him go alone! I salute you! I'm far too much of a control freak for that kind of thing! I know for a fact that DP would come home with 100 little things with Tigger all over it if I sent him to something like that shudder

We've now got a pram and a car seat for £165 total, both second hand but brilliant stuff. The pram is a German cot top with pram top as well, and the car seat was a £80 Graco model bought for £15 in the local second hand shop!

I'm starting to tally up how much we've spent on baby stuff, and I reckon we can do all the big furniture, pram, and accessories for under £300. Add another £150 we've got in John Lewis vouchers, and we've got a decent stock of clothes and nappies, too.

caliphora I'm completely with you, I love the little girl inside me to death but am really struggling with the change in identity, putting on weight, feeling like pants constantly, having teenage acne, people feeling like they can touch you all of a sudden - I know I sound like an ungrateful so and so and i cant wait until she arrives but I am not enjoying being pregnant at all .....if one more person says 'oh, you're at the blooming stage now you should be feeling great' I think I might throttle them (although of course I could just feel jealous because my back has decided to give out as the latest thing

caz just bloody awesome news, not sure if you've posted this before (apologies I've been a bit of a lurker what with wedding and moving house) is there a just giving link or something that I could donate on?

blue you are an inspiration and now I come to type this I realise i am being an ungrateful so and so ...having lost two I know the world works in mysterious ways that you cant always see at the time, so hope that when its the right time and place, well, you know ......

buffy - have you got a 'baby on board' badge? You can get them from any tube station, and whilst they dont always work its a nice 'Im not fat, now move' sign

so lovely ladies, its been bonkers here but im now all settled in new house, LOVING all the space and the garden, babies room is nearly done apart from cot (and for once god bless the army who have provided one with the house saving us yet more cash), there's still some boxes around but nothing dramatic and it was the easiest move I've ever done ......wedding was a lovely, special day although we cant wait for the big, white party next year when little miss lk is in the world

I'm off to enjoy the sunshine and play in my new garden

I have to say, i did love feeling all the inside movements with my son. About the only thing about being pregnant i loved. And this time around, getting the first flutters now, and not even loving that. Just too fed up of feeling crappy to feel good about much! I've also had 'shouldnt you be blooming'. 'well i'm not and it sucks' seems to be the stock reply. But still, hoping desperately not to have to go through the losses so many of you have been through. Really not convinced human females get a great deal.
Well, paracetamol actually appears to be doing something right now, so i too am off out to enjoy the garden. Though feeling sick and hot, so probably wont last long!

Cali I completely agree. It seems there is a fear of saying anything negative about the pregnancy experience beyond the obvious. Morning sickness and heartburn obviously suck, so free range complaining there, but saying the baby's movement can hurt goes against the happy TV moments of happy couples bonding with their babies and thus not allowed. As a fourth timer, I try to laugh at it (or I'd want to throttle - my eldest got his legs so far up my ribs I was in tears in pains, let alone cervix head-butting. I seem to not have gotten the rose-tinted glasses that are suppose to make you forget all of this).

Right now, my abdomen is so sore. I know it's just the muscles moving to make room for the uterus, but man it hurts. Only a good lie down seems to help (the belly bands that are meant to help seem to be useless on me). It reminds me I need to do the stretches and exercises but lie downs feel so much better .

Just a post from Orlando. We have wifi, so have been lurking. Not had the time to post - exhausting but fun days at Disney parks and Gatorland!

Sorry to all those not feeling happy and bloody amazing wishes to caz I am in awe.

I'm one of those sick-making women who loves being pregnant. Even with all the nausea, soreness and the swollen feet to come, I just adore it. But I do understand how people can be so so annoying. With DD, I hated how people would say labour feels like such and such, do this, do that etc. I wanted to say, until it happens to me, I won't know what I'll do to cope in labour!

Cali I'm impressed with your thrift - good for you. There are so many useless/overpriced stuff for babies! The only word of caution for me would be the car seat. Each to their own but I'd never buy 2nd hand unless I was absolutely certain of its history. If a car seat has been involved in an accident, the advice is to chuck it as it can be more dangerous than no car seat at all and iof you don't know it's history you don't know if that's the case.
It's up to you but I had to mention it for my own peace of mind.

Anyhoo - off to a water park today, back home next weekend and 20 wk scan a wk on wed! Bump properly out now :)

Howdy all, back from our holiday. Just caught up (over an hour!) and I'm sorry for the sad news Blue but also inspired by how you have dealt with it all. I hope it makes you stronger.

Caz an excellent sum for SANDS well done.

Folic every empathy with your anger, rage and panic. Hope everything is settling ok now you know to take it easy.
Hope everyone else is well too.

I managed to get through the 11 day holiday with only 1 codiene on the 2nd day. I think the gallstones have calmed down for a bit yay.

Only issue I really have is what I term "numb leg" or rather Meralgia Paresthetica which is uncomfortable rather than debilitating so on the scheme of things I'll just have to grin and bear it. Though when the silly cow on the shuttle bus from plane to arrivals kept hitting me with her holdall right on the burning area it wasn't a grin she was going to get!

I look pregnant now, not sure I like it. I've spent a life time trying not to "look" fat, hard to break the habit. Still no weight gain but am eating mostly normally again.

Well, that's me. I have Amnio (3rd and last attempt) tomorrow. It has to happen regardless of amnio position. My bloods came back higher risk. But because of the stupid decision not to do the nuchal by the mw and my dopiness agreeing it isn't a full assessment.

MRI scan for gallstone assessment on Wed then 20 week scan on Friday. A busy week!

Oops, that was supposed to say "It has to happen regardless of placenta position"

LK congratulations! Glad the house move has gone well, and that the wedding was everything you wanted.

And thank you for the "baby on board" pointer! I haven't been into London for a few weeks so hadn't spotted that they do that - what a great idea!

I think DH did relatively well at the NCT sale - he only spent £40 and didn't buy anything completely stupid. And then we went into town today and bought three stuffed toys...

PamSco it sounds like you had a good holiday - hooray for calmer gall stones! Hope the amnio goes successfully.

Still 10 days to wait until our 20 week scan!

lktoday congrats on the wedding glad it went so well, and glad your move went well.

buffy i think you're really lucky my dh won't even discuss names yet. isn't interested in talking anything about babies and certainly doesn't want to buy anything new for it. (although we obviously have most things anyway.)

mrs glad you're enjoying your hols.

pam glad you had a nice time and that the gallstones seem to have calmed down a bit.

i'm afraid i love feeling baby moving, for me it's so reassuring. plus it's the only thing pregnancy related i have now, i don't look pg as i'm so overweight. I also know however that each to their own, i know someone who is putting off having any children cause just the thought of having something inside her moving makes her want to throw up.

A little sad as my mum is flying home tonight and dh has taken her to the airport. I am still not fit to travel in the car for any great distance. To thank her for all her help in the past week we got her so theatre vouchers and a photo album which we are calling her boasting book as we hope in time she will put photos of the baby into it.
My bump feels like it has grown in the past week and I look v pregnant. Although I know it will hurt a bit tomorrow I am so looking forward to physiotherapy so I can start to feel more human again.
Names have caused a bit of an issue we hadn't discussed middle names but once we found out it was a boy I suggested my father's and dh's father's names. Unfortunately dh parents are divorced and his mum had come to the scan with us. A bit of foot in mouth however it it had been a girl I would have suggested the grandmother's to be names as middle names.

Lktoday glad the wedding and house move went well.

I'm glad I'm not an alien - it's so hard being who I've always been, and get told before you get pregnant "Oh, being pregnant changes how you think completely". And then I get pregnant and nothing changes. I'm still quite grossed out by the thought of birth, I'm not comfortable with the baby kicking around, and I have all intentions to spend the last 6 month of my mat leave having a life and routine with Sprout.

I know I have to adapt my lifestyle to the little bub, but why can't I have a mobile above the cot with an orang-utan librarian, Death, a witch and a giant tortoise with 4 elephants holding up a disc shaped planet!?

I'm glad everyone is having lovely times on holidays etc - wish I could take those weeks of relaxing time I'd planned!

Evening all,

been lurking quite a lot this week, but had 20 week scan and everything seems to be going ok, we didnt find out the sex, although I was sorely tempted, but baby was bouncing away like mad on the scan and seems to be growing well for dates, so no stress really.

Would love to be able to feel the baby move, sometimes I think I have and it turns out to be a massive fart on it's way out but my placenta is anterior so I guess that feeling the baby will take longer. I have a antenatal monitor thing, so although it's too pants to be able to hear the heart beat properly I can hear the baby kicking away, it's quite funny :)

Pam, I totally agree with you about the bump, I too have tried my whole adult life with not much luck to lose weight and now my bump is huge! I was carrying weight over my stomach already so that means everything now looks really big, but DH keeps on pointing out that this is what is supposed to happen, but am getting a bit sick of people commenting on my size, no I'm not having twins, yes, I will be totally enormous by the end, but given I'm only 5'2", that wouldn't be surprising!!

Caliphora, I think your mobile idea sounds brilliant, DH just mentioned the other day how much he wants the baby to be into Star Wars - plenty of happy memories from his childhood, I reckon a darth vader kid like on the passat advert would be really funny at halloween. You and your child should be the people that they are, although people do love to tell you what they think, my family are terrible for it, but hey ho, it's our kid and we will do what works for us and not what they tell us to, or thats the theory anyway, come back in a couple of years and see what has happened!!

Blue, might have already said this, but so sorry about what happened, but hope that your family are rallying around and looking after you.

Folic, glad that it was a false alarm, hopefully things might be easier for the rest of your pregnancy, you deserve a rest after all this!!!

LK, congrats on the wedding and new house, what an exciting year you are having!!!

thanks all! All in all had a lovely weekend! Tomorrow our vicar will come to talk through funeral arrangements. He has told us already that we won't have to pay anything which is one thing less to worry about.

Enjoy your pregnancies and I hope I will be joining another pregnancy thread soon!

cali i love disc world, can you really get a mobile like that? If we didn't have the one my mother bought us for ds i would be seriously tempted.

cookie it can be so awkward when parents have divorced especially if they're a bit touchy about it. i wouldn't worry about it too much, it's what makes you and dh happy that matters.

Caz that is such an amazing amount; you must be so pleased, I cannot wait to hear your Grand Total. Glad Anabelle's Angel day was a success. I hope you are keeping well.

lk glad to hear your wedding went as you wanted & that the move has gone smoothly. Hope things continue to go smoothly.

Wuzz I hope your finger is feeling better today - I would have done the same and picked up the hot quiche with my hands....you are not alone!!

Missing welcome :)

Cal you are not alone, a lot of people admit that they dislike many aspects of pregnancy whilst pregnant then the all seem to forget about the months of complaining they did & tell everyone how amazing it was!! I have to say I am one who is enjoying feeling the baby move around (though agree there are times when I find it annoying and painful); I think as I found out I was pregnant so late with my 1st pregnancy I felt movements almost straight away and I have struggled knowing everything is alright without the movements. I do understand completely though where you are coming from with what people say and how they expect to act as "a pregnant lady" - yes I love my baby & am happy that my pregnancy is physically going well, BUT... I am not happy all the time, I do not want to constantly talk about it, no I do not want to inform you of every detail of my pregnancy and my health, no you cannot touch my stomach, no I will not lift my baggy work top so you can see the bump better, no I am not feeling energetic, yes I do still have MS - why do you need to know.... most of these don't bother me too much as long as it is a different person each time but when it is a colleague who has little insight in other people's feelings (shocking considering she is a nurse) and constant day in day out I really am ready to throttle her!!!!!

Also cal I like your baby mobile idea too...something personal that shows baby your personality and the things you like. Yes we have to change a little when we have baby but only enough to remember baby's needs - as long as baby is feed, played with and sleeps it doesn't matter if you build a routine around them or if you get them to fit into your routine (I feel the later is better to an extent as it is easier for you, my LO fitted into my routine until we had to fit the school day in!!!)

Buffy my DP wouldn't have managed a nearly new sale on his own.... he barely copes around mothercare without clinging to me asking what all these things are and whether we need them!!

Folic hope you are feeling better and hope that the placenta is behaving; I do hope it moves up for you x x

Blue you are such an inspirational lady, I hope the meeting with the Vicar goes well and you get the day that you now want for Sterre.

Mrsa glad you are having a good holiday. Pam glad you had a good holiday & that your gallstones seem to have settled, hope they remain so.

We have had a really good weekend. Spent yesterday with DP's parents; they gave us a couple of bits they brought for baby and something for LO as well :) DP went up into the loft with FiL and got out his old cot, it needed a little clean but is perfect; it is the style of cot I love and rather than being plain has a picture of the nursery rhyme "there was an old lady who lived in a shoe" on one end...it fits perfectly into our "traditional fairy tales & nursery rhymes" themed nursery.
After a large monthly shop today we went to the park for a picnic tea. It was brilliant, we all had a great time in the sunshine; the highlight was watching a Red Kite & 2 Blackbirds fighting it out for a piece of prey - DS loves birds of prey and managed to get really close; the smile on his face has left a smile on mine :)

Anyway, sorry for the really long post (just realised how long it is!!!!) off to bid on a baby sling!!! Oh and I have my 20 week scan tomorrow - only just remembered considering I was on countdown last week :o

lktoday our justgiving page is: www.justgiving.com/anabelles-angel-day

Another update after more money counted/donated today: £5068.46

And still more to collect! I'm amazed what my little girl has inspired and we've achieved for her!

I'm finding all the little movements from Xander reassuring. Already I find my anxiety levels building if I haven't felt him for a few hours and I start poking him trying to get him to move. 16 weeks to go until the Drs will induce me and praying hard God keeps him safe until then.